Calutron receiver adjustment supports



R. c. CUNNINGHAM EI'AL 2,927, 08

CALUTRON RECEIVER ADJUSTMENT SUPPORTS Maf ch 1, 1960 6 Sheets-Sheet '1 Filed Oct. 4', 1951 PIE. 7

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CALUTRON RECEIVER ADJUSTMENT SUPPORTS Filed Oct. 4, 1951 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. Ha /4:0 a cmwm g/m/v March 1, 1960 I R. c. CUNNINGHAM ETAL 2,927,203

CALUTRON RECEIVER ADJUSTMENT SUPPORTS Filed Oct. 4, 1951 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 Y v IZV/N w 0 March 1, 1960 R. c. CUNNINGHAM ETAL 2,927,208

CALUTRON RECEIVER ADJUSTMENT SUPPORTS 6 sheets sheet 4 Filed Oct. 4, 1951 March 1, 1960 R. c. CUNNINGHAM ETAL 2,927,203

CALUTRON RECEIVER ADJUSTMENT SUPPORTS 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Oct. 4, 1951 INVENTOR.

iffdE/YEP March 1, 1960 R. c. CUNNINGHAM ETAL CALUTRON RECEIVER ADJUSTMENT SUPPORTS Filed Oct. 4, 1951 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 Aa usaA/e ATTOPNEV United States Patent" CALUTRON RECEIVER ADJUSTMENT SUPPORTS Richard C. Cunningham and Alvin W. Ogg, Pittsburgh, Pa., assignors, by mesne assignments, to the United States of America as represented by the United States Atomic Energy Commission Application October 4, 1951, Serial No. 249,756

3 Claims. (Cl. 250-413) Our invention relates to adjustable supports, and more particularly to an operating mechanism for adjustably supporting apparatus within a vacuum chamber, such as in an electromagnetically operated system for the sep aration of substances or isotopes of elements.

In the separation of substances or isotopes of elements, an electromagnetically operated system such as a calutron may be utilized. This system comprehends the heating of a charge of materials to produce neutral vapors, leading the vapors thus produced into an ionization chamber where they are subjected to bombardment from an electron stream set up between a heated filament and a plate, located in spaced relation within the ionization chamber. Ions formed in the ionization chmber are ejected from an exit slit therein and are accelerated through a magnetic field by accelerating potentials. In passing through the magnetic field, which extends in a direction at right angles to their travel, the ions are caused to travel in beams along arcuate paths whose radii correspond to their respective masses, and finally, at or near the focal points of the beams, the ions are gathered in receivers or collectors of carbon or other appropriate material. Conventional current meters connected to the receivers or collectors serve to indicate the relative ion flow.

Since these units are generally operated in pairs under considerable vacuum pressure, it became necessary to mount the receivers so that they could be adjusted with respect to each other and to their separate ion beams for optimum ion reception. However, these adjustments must be made during operation and with the receiver located within the vacuum system, and while the elements of the system are at high electrical potential. The adjustment problem is made more difiicult since ordinary lubricants cannot be tolerated under conditions f operation. In addition, arrangement of electrical leads and water or other cooling lines must be provided between the receivers and the external source of supply so that they will function satisfactorily during the adjusting operations. Under such conditions it is diflicult to prevent accumulation of conducting materials on the insulating portions of the adjusting mechanism.

The transmission of mechanical motions through the pressure barrier enclosing the unit, where no leakage can be tolerated, creates a major problem in the provision and maintenance of an adequate adjusting and mounting arrangement.

Applicants with a knowledge of all of these problems of the prior art have for an object of their invention the provision of an operating, mounting and adjusting mechanism for receivers in a vacuum system which may be quickly and easily adjusted from a position externally of the vacuum system, while the receivers are insulated from the mechanism.

Applicants have as another object of their invention the provision of a receiver mounting and adjusting arrangement for a vacuum system which permits adjustment of a receiver in a plurality of planes without adversely effecting the vacuumin the system.

Applicants have as another object of their invention the provision of a receiver mounting and adjusting arrangement which positions all sliding contact surfaces Well away from high temperature areas and material deposits.

Applicants have as a further object of their invention the provision of a receiver mounting and adjusting arrangement with bearing surfaces of dissimilar metals Where there is relative motion between the elements.

Applicants have as a still further object of their invention the provision of a receiver mounting and adjusting arrangement which has a minimum number of joints between driving and driven members, while retaining a structure for rapid and easy. manipulation.

Applicants have as a still further object of their invention the provision of a receiver mounting and actuating arrangement for anion sorting vacuum system wherein the leakage resulting from direct bombardment is overcome by bringing the electrical and cooling leads into the system. through and protecting them in the mounting arrangement.

Other objects and advantages of our invention. will appear from the following specification and accompanying drawings and the novel features thereof will be particularly pointed out in the annexed claims.

In the drawings, Fig. 1, is a front elevation of a face plate assembly in an ion sorting vacuum system show ing our improved mounting and adjusting arrangement. Fig. 2 is a side elevation taken along the lines 22 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a perspective of the face plate assembly of our improved mounting and adjusting arrangement having a slightly modified panel. Fig. 4 is a detail of the frame and gearing for providing horizontal adjustment of the receivers. Fig. 5 is a detail of the arrangement for housing the electrical leads and cooling lines as they enter the operating equipment. Fig. 6 is a detail sectional view of the horizontal adjusting means for our improved system taken along the lines 66 of Fig. 4. Fig. 7 is a phantom view of the horizontal adjusting arrangement of our improved system. Fig. 8 is a schematic detail view; showing alternative positions of the tubes for supporting the receivers. Fig. 9 is a front view of the frame and the gears used in our improved system. Fig. 10 is a dc tail partly in section of the tilt screw and its connection with the hinged plate. Fig. 11 is a schematic, partly in section, of a conventional electromagnetically operated system for the separation of isotopes.

While our invention may be used in various forms of electromagnetically operated equipment for the separation of isotopes such as disclosed in the copending applications of Barnes, Serial No. 658,946, which matured into, Patent 2,794,923, and Carter, Serial No. 706,821, which matured into Patent 2,806,143, one suitable form of such device is the calutron of Fig. 11 of the drawings. This device comprises the combination of an evacuated closed vessel having a magnetic field passing therethrough in the plane of the paper, provided by a magnet, one pole of which is indicated at 102. The magnet is of such strength as to constrain uniform velocity ions pro jected within the vessel to arcs whose radii are a pre-- determined fixed function of the momentum of the ions. By such means it is known that ions having a common, origin and travelling different paths of equal curvature, will, due to geometric focusing action, substantially pass through a common region after of travel.

In order for this apparatus to have practical utility as a means for making isotopes available in quantity, it is necessary to provide a receiver which is an assembly having pockets for collecting different isotopes. Within the vessel 100, which is preferably highly evacuated, there is generally provided two ion sources or a single ion source indicated schematically at 103 having two outlets.

source 103 ionization of neutral vapors containing the desired isotopes takes place, and which furnishes the ions of such desired materials, having the isotopes to be recovered. Accelerating electrodes 105, 105' adjacent the source or sources are made negative with respect to such source or sources and serve to project the ions into space within the vessel 100 so that they travel at high speeds in arcuate paths toward theirrespective receivers 101 and 101', and are collected therein. However, eflicient col lection of these isotopes or materials is dependent upon the proper positioning ofthe receivers with respect to the 'ion beams. To accomplish this, it is necessaryrto provide means for accurately adjusting them.

Referring now more particularly to applicants invenvention as disclosed in detail in the drawings,,1 designates the face plate of the vacuum tank or other enclosure for the ,electromagnetically: operated equipment. Passing through an opening in theiface plate 1 is a tubular element 4 having its inner end telescopically engaged with support element 4' which serves in turn to mount a receiver for the system as shown in Fig. 2. .This connection forms a pivoted or hinged joint since 'a collar 7 is disposed about the extremity of the tube 4 'adjacent its inner end and carries set screws or pin 56 which seat in openings in the corresponding support ele-v ment 4'. Both the electrical leads 11 and the water or cooling leads 58 pass through these tubular members 4, 4' from the exterior of the plate 1 to the receivers to provide electrical continuity and to supply a cooling me dium for the cooling pad 38 whichis attached to the receiver through studs 90. The receivers, 101, 101 are of conventional form with the ion collecting pocketsinsulated from the outer case which is grounded through the mounting and adjusting mechanism to the face plate. Projecting from the rear of cases '101, 101' are two shaft 76 is rotatably mounted in the hub 73 and is supported by a U-shaped bracket 77 having feet 32, 32

which are secured to the face plate 1 by bolts 31, 31 or otherwise as shown in Fig. 3. To reduce loss of vacuum pressure within the tank and to overcome leakage around the shaft 76, the outer end of the hub 73 is counterbored so that rubber washers 45, 45 may be disposed about the shaft between metal rings 40, 40. The outer end of the bore is internally screw threaded at 21 and a gland nut 39 is provided to co-act with the threads of the bore for compressing the packing elements or washers 45, 45 about the shaft 76. This particular packing assembly is ordinarily known as a Wilson seal.

On the outer end-ofshaft 76 a hand wheel 8 is mounted, and is keyed to the shaft 76 with a conventional key 30, seated in the registering grooves in the shaft 76 and the hub of the wheel 8. The outer end of the shaft 76 is screw threaded to receive a nut 51 and Washer 52 to prevent removal of the wheel therefrom. The shaft 76 is held against removal from the bracket 77 by a collar 29 positioned on the inner face of the bracket, and which carries a set screw 61 for engagement with the outer surface of the shaft to limit relative longitudinal movement. This collar tends to limit endwise displacement of the shaft during operation, andthis in turn tends to maintain the inner reduced end 75 of such shaft in interlocking engagement with the tilt screw 26.

. Interposed between the bracket 77 and the hand wheel 8 spaced curved portions 106, 106 and 106', 106'. As will 7 be seen the portions 106, 106 are mounted on and secured to ring 5 by screws 107 which project through the ring and screw thread into the case of the receiver.- These screws are preferably set at 120 apart about the ring 5. Since ring 5 is mounted on an end of tube 4' by screws 6, it is apparent that the articulated support 4, 4' serves as a mount for the upper receiver 101. The lower receiver 101 is similarly mounted except that it is retained against tilting adjustment, the support not being articulated. On the interior of the tank the supporting elements 4 and the tubular elements 4 are housed within telescoping casings2, 16, and 2, 16. The inner casing 2 is supported by spaced external collars 46, 47 which rest upon and snugly engage the outer surface of the tubular support 4. The other end of the inner casing 2 is welded to the hinged plate 3 and extends into a bore therein, while the opposite end of the lower inner casing 2' is welded to a flanged coupling 35 which is mounted on the back side of the face plate 1' with screws 53. The plate 3 is pivoted at its lower end on shouldered pins 70 carried by bearings 71 mounted on the rear face of plate 1. Pins 70 seat in sockets formed in the edges of plate 3 and permit pivoting thereabout. The upper end of plate 3 has a bore 34 therein for the reception of the head of a tilt screw 26. A

peripheral groove 72 is formed in the head of the tilt screw, and screws 25, 25 are screw threadedly seated in the plate 3 and have reduced extensions which project into groove 72, engage the walls thereof, and provide a swivel connection between plate 3 and tilt screw 26. The tilt screw 26 extends into an internally screw threaded hub 73 whichhas a reduced end portion received in a bore or opening 33 in face plate 1 and is secured there to by leak tight welding or otherwise. The tilt screw '26 has threads on its extension which mesh with the threads of the hub, and adjacent its free end has a longitudinal groove 74 formed therein for the reception of the reduced extension ortongue 75 of a shaft 76. The

is a plate 54 having graduations on its outer surface. This plate is welded or otherwise secured to the bracket 77. Mounted on the hub of hand wheel 8 is a dial or pointer 55 for movement therewith and for cooperation with the graduations on plate 54 for indicating the relative position of the hand wheel 8, and in turn the tilt of plate 3. The pointer has a ring shaped portion 55' for surrounding the hub of hand wheel 8 and is fixedly secured thereto. I

In addition to the tilting adjustment of the upper receiver support, there is a horizontal, or in and out adjustment. However, this adjustment is provided for both the upper and the lower support. In each instance, it is accomplished in the same manner, that is, by projecting the tubular element 4 through the face plate 1 by varying degrees. The slip joint in each case that permits this action includes a hub 78 which is secured to the outer surface of the plate 1 by welding or otherwise and has a reduced portion that seats in and 'registerswith a suitable opening 57 therein. The hub has an enlarged orcounter-bore 28 in its outer end for the reception of rubber or other packing washers 27 which are separated by the interposition of rings 41 thcrebetween. A gland nut 22 cooperates with screw threads in the walls of 'the bore and serves to press the rings 41 against the washers 27 and urge them into intimate relation with the tubular element 4 to provide a seal against the loss of vacum pressure within the tank. This packing joint is similar to the one heretofore described and provides a well known or conventional seal.

A longitudinal section of tubular element 4 adjacent the outer end is flattened to engage and support a toothed rack 79. Extensions project from either end of the rackand collars 42, 42 are disposed about the extensions and the tubular element 4, and carry set screws 62, 62 which serve to clamp the rack 79 in place on the tubular element-4. Also positioned on the tubular element 4 beyond the rack 79 is an expansible two part clamp generally designated 80 of conventional type held together through screws 82, 82 or other appropriate means. One part of the clamp 80 carries cars 81, 81 having screw threaded sockets for cooperation with the screws 82, 82 passing through clamping plate 83. The clamping plate 83 is adapted to engage and force a plurality of disc shaped seals 59, 60 of rubber and Micarta, positioned alternative, into the outer end of the tubular element .4 and against an internal shoulder or ring 63'positioned therein for compressing them. Two electrical eads 11 and a series of water or cooling tubes 58 pass through openings in the disc shaped seals 59, 60. Compression of the disc seals cause them to snugly engage the electrical leads 11 and the tubes 58 to provide an effective vacuum seal for the system.

Mounted on the front of the face plate 1 through studs or otherwise, and enclosing a portion of the tubular ele ment 4 is a frame 86. This frame has openings 87 in its outer end for the passage of the tubular element 4, while one of the side walls thereof receives a bearing 84 for mounting a shaft 88 which extends transversely of the frame as shown in Fig. 4. The outer end of shaft 88 carries a gear 36 which is adapted to mesh with worm gear 49, and the inner end mounts a pinion 37 which meshes with the teeth of the rack 79 carried by the tubular element 4, as shown more in detail in Figs. 4 and 6. In Fig. 6 it will be observed that gears 36 and 37 are secured to shaft 88 by means of tapered keys 99, 99 which pass through registering bores in the shaft 88 and gears 36 and 37, respectively, and may be held in place by mating screw threads. The worm gear 49 is mounted on the inner end of shaft 44 which extends longitudinally of the frame 36 and is journalled in appropriate bores or bearings in an extension 89 of the frame. The outer end of the shaft 44 is screw threaded to co-act with the threads of nut 85 of Fig. 4, for retaining hand wheel 43 on the shaft 44. A Woodmff key 48 seated in the shaft 44 co-acts with an appropriate key way or groove in the hub of the hand wheel 43 to lock the elements against relative rotation.

The horizontal adjusting mechanism for the lower receiver partially shown in Fig. 2 is similar in all respects to the one described above. For this reason, further detailed description of such arrangement and equipment has been omitted to obviate unnecessary repetition.

In the operation of the system, it is necessary to position the receivers at or near the focal point of the ion beams, in order to insure maximum collection of the various groups of ions. While this may be largely accomplished by horizontal adjustment of the receivers in to and out of the paths of the ion beams, some adjustment must also be made of the receivers with respect to each other.

In each instance, the horizontal adjustment of the receiver is accomplished by rotating the hand wheel 43 which in turn rotates shaft 44 and the worm gear 49. However, worm gear 49 meshes with gear 36 on shaft 88 so that this latter shaft is rotated, and pinion 37 on the other end thereof moves rack 79 and actuates it together with tubular element 4 and tubular support 4' into and out of the tank or vacuum chamber. Since the receiver is mounted on the inner end of tubular support 4', it is likewise subjected to horizontal movement or adjustment. When the receiver has been moved to the position corresponding to optimum operation, as indicated by the elec trical meter, further adjustment is unnecessary and the receiver is left in that position.

For relative adjustment of the receivers, in substantially the vertical plane, hand wheel 8 is rotated causing shaft 76 to also rotate. However, since the reduced end 75 of the shaft seats in groove 74 and is interlocked with the tilt screw 26, it serves to rotate the tilt screw in the screw threaded socket of hub 73, and this causes the screw to move in or out of the hub, depending upon the direction of rotation of the hand Wheel 8. Movement of the tilt screw 26 carries with it the upper end of plate 3, since the screws 25, 25 carried by the plate and having ends which extend into the peripheral groove 72 in the head of the tilt screw, permit swivel movement thereof. As plate 3 moves in or out with the tilt screw 26, it pivots about its lower end, swinging casings 2, 16 with it, but outer casing 16 is secured to the tubular support 4' through a collar 5 and screw 6 extending therethrough, and into the end of the tubular support 4'. This causes the tubular support 4' to move with the casings 2, 16 and the plate 3. This movement is permitted by the use of the hinged or pivot joint which includes collar 7. Accordingly, relative movement of the tubular support 4' with respect to the tubular element 4 tilts the upper receiver carried by the former, and adjusts its position with respect to the lower one.

From the foregoing it is apparent that each of the adjustments may be made independently of the others, and that the proper adjustment for optimum results can be determined from the current indicator or monitoring system, which should register a maximum when the receivers are properly positioned. The water leads extending through casings may be relatively rigid, but the water leads, externally of the casing, should be made flexible in order to facilitate easy adjustment of the receiver.

Having thus described our invention, we claim:

1. An arrangement for mounting a receiver in a closed vessel, comprising a face plate for closing the vessel, a receiver adapted to be positioned within the closed vessel, a two-part articulated support extending through the face plate for mounting the receiver on one part, a hinged element carried by the face plate and engaged with the part of the articulated support carrying the receiver, and means for actuating the hinged element to tilt the receiver.

2. An arrangement for mounting a receiver in a closed vessel comprising a face plate for the vessel having an inner and an outer face, a receiver adapted to be positioned Within the vessel, a two-part articulated support extending through the face plate for mounting the receiver on one part, means for mounting the support in sealed relation to the face plate, a member pivotally mounted on the inner face of the plate and engageable with the part of said articulated support carrying said receiver, and means positioned at the outer face of the plate for actuating the member to adjust the support and tilt the receiver.

3. An arrangement for mounting a receiver in a closed vessel comprising a face plate for the vessel having inner and outer faces, a receiver adapted to be positioned within the vessel, an articulated support passing through the plate, said support including two parts, means for mounting the receiver on one of said parts, a pivoted member on the inner face of the plate for engagement with said one of said parts of the support, and means including a shaft positioned on the outer face of the plate and extending through it for interlocking engagement with the member to swing it about its pivot for articulating the support and tilting the receiver.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,221,467 Bleakney Nov. 12, 1940 2,418,903 Runge Apr. 15, 1947 2,727,152 Barnes et al Dec. 13, 1955 2,736,811 Weaver et al. Feb. 28, 1956 2,758,213 Peters Aug. 7, 1956 

